At its core, co-op gaming is about working together to solve whatever problems a game throws your way, and no genres display this trait more explicitly than puzzlers. The best co-op puzzlers, though, give each player a sense of distinct participation. Everyone feels like they've contributed something meaningful to the cause, and no player dominates the path to a solution.

Yesterday, Nintendo held one of their "Nindies Showcases" to highlight some of the titles that will be headed to the Switch over the next few months. There are a few stand-out single-player games (like Mark of the Ninja Remastered, The Messenger, and Banner Saga 3), but, of course, we were more focused on the co-op games. Help guide a fallen star home in Pode, dodge shapes to the rhythm of phat beats in Just Shapes and Beats, or decide the fate of your kingdom in Reigns: Kings and Queens.

When a star and a boulder get together, something weird's gonna happen. In the case of Stella and Bulder, that weird thing is a video game. Currently in development by indie game studio Henchman & Goon, Pode is a co-op puzzle and exploration game that emphasizes experience over challenge, setting up a gorgeous world two players can explore together.